Junior center fielder Brenna Moss was tabbed the MW Defensive Player of the Year after logging 89 putouts, 14 assists and a .990 fielding mark.

May 13, 2014

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - For the second straight year, the Fresno State softball team led the Mountain West in most all-conference honors in an announcement by the MW office Tuesday.

The `Dogs scored five combined All-MW First- and Second-Team laurels and tied for the league high with San Diego State and UNLV.

"This is a huge honor for our program and well-deserved," Fresno State head coach Trisha Ford said. "All of these players have worked hard to raise their game. Most of our honorees were underclassmen so that also means the future is bright, too."

Five of the other six teams claimed multiple members among the two All-MW squads - Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Jose State (3) and Nevada (2). The remaining squad, Utah State, also had one selection.

Leading the Bulldog list of honorees, junior center fielder Brenna Moss was tabbed as the MW Defensive Player of the Year after she logged 14 assists and 89 putouts this year and a .990 fielding mark.

"It's not easy to win a defensive player of the year award in center field," Ford said, "but Brenna was a game changer and forced teams to adjust their game plans with her range and her arm. She was also one of the nation's top players offensively and set the tone for our team in many ways."

The Bakersfield, Calif., native also repeated on the All-MW First Team with sophomore pitcher Jill Compton.

Moss was also a force offensively, and her school record-tying 34 stolen bases ranked second in the conference. She also stood third in the MW in hits (70), fifth in runs (43) and eighth in batting (.376).

The team's top newcomer, Willis ranked top five for the team in on-base percentage (first, .432), walks (second, 24), stolen bases (second, 9), batting (third, .307) and triples (fourth, 2).

"Stesha was a key bat for us in the heart of the line-up again this year," Ford said. "Kierra was honored as a freshman so that means a lot. She's a true triple threat at the plate, and we expect big things from her in the future."

Fresno State was also the only squad to have two pitchers honored after the squad led the MW in lowest opposing batting average (.247) and fewest hits allowed (328), and ranked second in ERA (2.62) and saves (6).

"Pitching is where it all starts so it's special to have two players recognized," Ford said. "Jill and Hannah were solid all season long and constantly stepped up against the conference's top teams. They made important steps this year and still have room to grow next year, so I'm excited to continue to see them develop."

Other top conference honors Tuesday went to UNLV sophomore shortstop Garie Blando (Player of the Year), San Diego State's Danielle O'Toole (Pitcher of the Year) and Kathy Van Wyk (Coach of the Year) and Utah State freshman third baseman Victoria Saucedo (Freshman of the Year).

Last weekend, the `Dogs (31-21, 15-9) capped the regular season and matched their preseason conference polling with a second-place finish in the MW, one game behind San Diego State.

In head coach Trisha Ford's first season at the helm in 2013, Fresno State also tied for the league lead with four All-MW honors. Compton and Moss were chosen as well last season, as was catcher Paige Gumz and third baseman Vonnie Martin.

More conference information is available at the www.TheMW.com web site.

Player of the Year: Garie Blando, So., SS, UNLV
Pitcher of the Year: Danielle O'Toole, So., LHP, San Diego State
Defensive Player of the Year: Brenna Moss, Jr., CF, Fresno State
Freshman of the Year: Victoria Saucedo, Fr., 3B, Utah State
Coach of the Year: Kathy Van Wyk, San Diego State

**= three-time honoree
*= two-time honoree

ALL-TIME FRESNO STATE SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS

1978 NorCal
Rosie Garcia, First Team
Susan Lewis, First Team
Vernie Miller, First Team
Corrina Smart, First Team

1979 NorCal
Vernie Miller, First Team
Terri Monfore, First Team
Janee Silva, First Team

1980 NorCal
Raylene Adolphson, First Team
Rosie Garcia, First Team
Karen Tabor, First Team

1981 NorCal
Edna Figueroa, First Team
Janee Silva, First Team
Wende Ward, First Team

1982 NorCal
Denise Ketcham, First Team
Sandi Taylor, First Team
Wende Ward, First Team

1983 NorPac
Kim Muratore, First Team
Wende Ward, First Team

1984 NorPac
Barbara Cambria, First Team
Rene Polanco, First Team
Alyce Rodriguez, First Team
Kerry Steitz, First Team
Judy Tucker, First Team

1985 NorPac
Barbara Cambria, First Team
Lori Romeiro, First Team
Karen Spurlock, First Team
Kerry Steitz, First Team
Gena Strang, First Team

1986 NorPac
Cindy Johnson, First Team
Melanie Parrent, First Team
Kerry Steitz, First Team
Gena Strang, First Team

1987 PCA
Kathy Mayer, First Team
Kim Mecum, Second Team
Martha Noffsinger, First Team
Melanie Parrent, First Team
Lori Romeiro, Second Team
Gena Strang, First Team

1988 PCA
Carie Dever, First Team
Kathy Mayer, Second Team
Martha Noffsinger, Honorable Mention
Melanie Parrent, First Team (Pitcher of the Year)
Karin Richter, Second Team
Gena Strang, First Team

1989 Big West
Terry Carpenter, First Team (Pitcher of the Year)
Carie Dever, First Team
Gina LoPiccolo, First Team (Utility)
Gina LoPiccolo, Second Team (Designated Player)
Kathy Mayer, Second Team
Martha Noffsinger, First Team (Co-Player of the Year)
RaeAnn Pifferini, First Team
Jill Polanco, Second Team
Shelly Stokes, Second Team

1990 Big West
Terry Carpenter, Second Team
Carie Dever, First Team (Pitcher)
Carie Dever, Second Team (Third Base)
Kerri Donis, Second Team
Gina LoPiccolo, First Team
Marth Noffsinger, First Team (Player of the Year)
RaeAnn Piferini, First Team
Julie Smith, First Team
Shelly Stokes, First Team

1991 Big West
Terry Carpenter, First Team (Co-Pitcher of the Year)Marcie Green, Second Team
Dina Lopez, Second Team
Gina LoPiccolo, First Team
Kim Maher, First Team
RaeAnn Pifferini, Honorable Mention
Julie Smith, First Team
Christa Yorke, First Team

1992 Big West
Michelle Bolt, Honorable Mention
Terry Carpenter, First TeamMarcie Green, Second Team
Kim Maher, Second Team
Rhonda Schwebach, First Team
Melissa Thatcher, Second Team
Christa Yorke, First Team

1994 WACLaura Berg, Honorable Mention
Michelle Bolt, First Team
Maureen Brady, First Team
Kim Maher, First Team
Christa Yorke, Honorable Mention
Robyn Yorke, First Team

1995 WACLaura Berg, First Team
Randi Berg, First Team
Maureen Brady, First Team
Jenifer Henry, Second Team
Robyn Yorke, First Team

1996 WAC
Randi Berg, Second Team
Jennifer Clark, First Team
Jenifer Henry, First Team
Nina Lindenberg, First Team (Player of the Year)
Lindsay Parker, First Team (Freshman of the Year)
Robyn Yorke, Second Team

1997 WACLaura Berg, First Team
Nina Lindenberg, Second TeamAmanda Scott, Second Team (Freshman of the Year)
Robyn Yorke, First Team

1998 WACLaura Berg, First Team
Nina Lindenberg, First Team (Player of the Year)
Jaime Maxey, Second TeamAmanda Scott, First Team (Pitcher of the Year)
Carolyn Wilson, Second TeamBecky Witt, Second Team (Freshman of the Year)